Travel totes

ABSTRACT

An improved tote means for use by travelers or others in carrying clothing on suitable hangers preferably bagged against damage by dust or rain, and for carrying simultaneously other selected items such as a conventional flight bag or the like, which tote means is formed and cushioned for carrying the same manually balanced on one&#39;&#39;s shoulder while being held in a comfortable position by one arm and hand of the traveler or other person carrying said tote means.

United States Patent [191 Hill Nov. 19, 1974 TRAVEL TOTES 3,578,226 5/1971 Good 224 45 T [76] Inventor: Edward J. Hill, 1660 Lochridge [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 406,573

[52] U.S. Cl. 224/45 T [51] Int. Cl. A45c 13/26 [58] Field of Search 224/45 T, 45 P, 5 P

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,661 5/1956 Kaplan 224/45 T 3,162,473 12/1964 George 294/15 X 3,362,599 1/1968 Galazin 224/45 P 3,549,065 12/1970 Schubert 294/15 X 3,564,590 2/1971 Hebel 224/5 P Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48103 Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Everett G. Wright [5 7] ABSTRACT An improved tote means for use by travelers or others in carrying clothing on suitable hangers preferably bagged against damage by dust or rain, and for carrying simultaneously other selected items such as a conventional flight bag or the like, which tote means is formed and cushioned for carrying the same manually balanced on ones shoulder while being held in a comfortable position by one arm and hand of the traveler or other person carrying said tote means.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEL HOV I 9 I974 TRAVEL TOTES The said tote is preferably constructed of an upper curved tubular carrier shoulder element flattened vertically and apertured along its outer end to receive and hold in spaced relationship conventional garment hangers and other items such as a flight bag or the like. A lower straight front guide element is removably telescopingly fixed at its upper end to the lower end of the said upper carrier arm, thus forming a unitary bowed tote means which may be readily disassembled for carrying within conventional luggage when not in use.

The bottom of the upper curved carrier arm is padded at the curved portion thereof with a suitable cushioning element whereby to permit the loaded tote to be comfortably carried on ones shoulder. The lower end of the lower straight guide arm is provided with a suitable hand grip having a preferably resilient cord extending thereform with an anchorage element fixed thereon and depending therefrom. The said anchorage element is formed to engage the belt of a person using the tote if and when desired, which anchorage element is employed to hold the lower end of the tote to free his hand from the hand grip on the lower end of the lower straight arm of the tote for temporary use other than holding the tote in its normal in-use position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive portable tote means for carrying clothing on suitable hangers preferably bagged against rain and dust, and for simultaneously carrying a conventional flight bag or other items which also may be hung on the tote protected from the elements as required and in space available therefor.

The tote is preferably formed of two major elements adapted to be removably secured together when in use. The tear or shoulder element is formed to accommodate hangers and the like thereon, and is curved and cushioned to rest comfortably upon the shoulder of the user. The front or guide element is preferably straight and is removably fixable at its upper end to and in alignment with the lower forward end of the said shoulder element. The lower end of the guide element is provided with a suitable hand grip for use in manually maintaining the tote on the shoulder of the user.

If desired, an anchorage element is connected by a cord or the like to the bottom of the said hand grip, which anchorage element is formed to engage the belt of a person carrying the tote whereby to permit free use of his or her hand that normally would be engaging the hand grip when the tote is in use.

The use of travel totes of the instant invention assures that clothing being conveniently carried thereby is not only free hanging but remains wrinkle free while being transported from place to place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a travel tote embodying the invention when in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed side elevational view of the travel tote disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the tote taken substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the tote shown in detail in FIG. 2 disassembled for convenience in carrying the same in conventional luggage;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 showing the upper end view of the resilient shoulder pad preferably employed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF APREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a travel tote 10 of the invention being carried on the shoulder of a user 11 with several suitably bagged garments 12 hung on conventional garment hangers with the hooks l3 thereof engaged on the tote 10. It will be observed that space is available to carry several additional bagged garments or other articles on the tote 10 including, for example, a flight bag if so desired.

The tote 10 consists of two major elements; namely, a rear or shoulder element 14 and a front or guide element 15 shown assembled in FIGS. 2 and 3, and disassembled in FIG. 4.

The rear shoulder element 14 is preferably constructed of suitable tubing flattened at its upper end at 141 and curved at its lower end 142 which terminates in a straight open end 143. The said open lower end 143 of the shoulder element 14 is neatly telescoped over the extending end 1,530 of a tubular connector pin 153 which is permanently pressed fit into the upper end of the guide element 15.

The flattened upper end 141 of the shoulder element 14 is preferably provided with a plurality of large and small apertures 144 and 145 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 which accommodate the hooks 13 of conventional garment hangers and other items when hung thereon. An upper square ended transverse groove 146 is provided in the top of the flattened upper end 141 of the shoulder element 14 to accommodate the strap of a conventional flight bag or the like (not shown).

The lower curved portion 142 of the shoulder element 14 has its bottom half covered with a resilient pad 16 which is firmly cemented or otherwise secured to the bottom of the curved portion of the shoulder element 14 as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6. The ends of the said resilient pad 16 each have a loop of substantial length formed integral therewith, which loops 160 are preferably cemented on or otherwise secured to and fit tightly on the upper top half of the curved portion 142 of the shoulder element 14. The said resilient pad 16 and its end loops 160 are preferably formed of rubber or the like having sufficient resiliency to assure that a travel tote 10 of the invention may be carried comfortably on ones shoulder.

The straight open lower end 143 of the shoulder element 14 is preferably slotted at the top thereof at 1,430

to accommodate a short tongue 1,532 formed on the top of the extending end 1,530 of the tubular connector pin 153. The engagement of the tongue 1,532 formed on the top of the tubular connector pin 153 within the slot 1,430 formed in the top of the lower end 143 of the shoulder element 14 prevents the turning of the guide element with respect to the shoulder element 14 when the tote is assembled and in use.

A hand grip preferably having finger spacers 21 on its upper side and non-slip ribs 22 on the lower side thereof is firmly telescoped and secured on the lower end of the guide element 15 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. An anchorage element 23 consisting of a suitable preferably strong resilient cord 230 is fixed at 231 to the center of the bottom of the hand grip 20 and extends therefrom a sufficient distance so that a hook 232 secured on the lower end of the cord 230 may be engaged manually to the belt (not shown) of the user of the tote 10 whereby to free the users hand from the hand grip 20 when and as may be required during use of the said tote 10.

From the foregoing disclosure and description of the novel tote 10 of the invention for travel or other use, it is obvious that the applicant herein has provided an improved and highly desirable tote means for carrying clothing and other items conveniently in a non-slip cushioned relationship on the shoulder of the user, the said tote means being able to be readily disassembled for being carried in conventional luggage when not in use.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the various elements of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tote means for use by travelers and others for carrying on ones shoulder clothing or other items mounted on conventional hook type hangers or the like, said items being bagged as required against damage by rain or dust, comprising a. an upper rear shoulder element formed of suitable tubing vertically flattened at its upper rearwardly disposed end portion, is vertically curved at its central portion, and terminates in a diagonally downwardly extending straight open end portion,

b. the said vertically flattened end portion of said rear shoulder element having a plurality of transverse large and small apertures therethrough spaced to receive the hooked end of items to be hung on and carried by said tote,

c. a resilient pad secured to the bottom of the vertically curved central portion of said upper rear shoulder element whereby to provide cushioning means supporting the said tote on the shoulder of its user, and

d. a front guide element including a hand grip fixed on the lower end thereof and means fixed on the upper end thereof removably securing said front guide element in non-turnable relationship with respect to the said downwardly extending end portion of said upper rear shoulder element.

2. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said vertically flattened end portion of the rear shoulder element is provided with at least one upper square ended transverse groove therein whereby to accommodate the strap of a conventional flight bag or the like.

3. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient pad secured to the bottom of the vertically curved central portion of said shoulder element is molded generally U-shaped and is cemented thereto.

4. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally U-shaped resilient pad is provided with integral loops at each end thereof extending over said shoulder element, and both said U-shaped resilient pad and the said integral loops thereof are cemented thereto.

5. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 including a belt hook engagable with the belt of the user of the tote means connected by a resilient cord to the bottom of the said hand grip whereby the hand of the user normally gripping said hand grip may be released temporarily therefrom for short periods of time as may be required during the use of said tote means. 

1. A tote means for use by travelers and others for carrying on one''s shoulder clothing or other items mounted on conventional hook type hangers or the like, said items being bagged as required against damage by rain or dust, comprising a. an upper rear shoulder element formed of suitable tubing vertically flattened at its upper rearwardly disposed end portion, is vertically curved at its central portion, and terminates in a diagonally downwardly extending straight open end portion, b. the said vertically flattened end portion of said rear shoulder element having a plurality of transverse large and small apertures therethrough spaced to receive the hooked end of items to be hung on and carried by said tote, c. a resilient pad secured to the bottom of the vertically curved central portion of said upper rear shoulder element whereby to provide cushioning means supporting the said tote on the shoulder of its user, and d. a front guide element including a hand grip fixed on the lower end thereof and means fixed on the upper end thereof removably securing said front guide element in non-turnable relationship with respect to the said downwardly extending end portion of said upper rear shoulder element.
 2. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said vertically flattened end portion of the rear shoulder element is provided with at least one upper square ended transverse groove therein whereby to accommodate the strap of a conventional flight bag or the like.
 3. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient pad secured to the bottom of the vertically curved central portion of said shoulder element is molded generally U-shaped and is cemented thereto.
 4. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally U-shaped resilient pad is provided with integral loops at each end thereof extending over said shoulder element, and both said U-shaped resilient pad and the said integral loops thereof are cemented thereto.
 5. A tote means as claimed in claim 1 including a belt hook engagable with the belt of the user of the tote means connected by a resilient cord to the bottom of the said hand grip whereby the hand of the user normally gripping said hand grip may be released temporarily therefrom for short periods of time as may be required during the use of said tote means. 